In August Wilson's play, Fences, the author wants to study black characters in a predominantly white society. The play demonstrates that the realization of the American dream remains only a fantasy for the black community in a population where racism constitutes a major obstacle. Racism severely limits the extent to which black people can achieve their feats. Black society lives in a country that claims to be the land of equal opportunity. However, they are required to tolerate various forms of discrimination. Fences is a play in which the author depicts an African-American family and their struggles to achieve their American dream, even after hard work. Considering the economic approach of Wilson's Fences, readers can identify racial discrimination as an obstacle preventing African Americans from achieving the great American dream. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay Inadequate opportunities to gain wealth, power and prestige are some of the reasons that lead to failure of the American dream. The main protagonist of the play, Fences, “The Life of Troy Maxson, is an ambitious and wishful African-American who fails because of the racial prejudice imposed on blacks by society.” Troy faces difficulty obtaining paid employment when he moves from the South to the North to find opportunities in more industrialized jobs. He hopes to find a chance to live the American dream. According to Grover, Satish and Vijay Prasad, "a pastoral dream of a fertile new Eden, a successful dream of financial prosperity, and a dream of global brotherhood to be realized in the new continent were considered the three main components of the American Dream." Troy eventually found enough employment to meet his daily needs. Readers see that Troy had to use some of the money his brother received from the government as a disabled military veteran in order to buy a house. Another source of income for his family was the money he received from his brother. Gabriel was living in Troy's basement, and so the financial strain is revealed when Troy discovers his brother is leaving home. Clearly, financial problems were already hampering Troy Maxon's life. After years of work, his income had not allowed the Maxon family to have anything of their own. Part of the American dream is owning a big, beautiful house with a fence around it, but Troy describes his house: "It's been over ten years since this roof was tarred... Next thing, it's going to leak everywhere in the house. Then the wood rots from all the water, and you'll need a whole new roof………” (Wilson 1.2.35-40). Troy could neither own a home nor play professional baseball. Troy was so poor that it was impossible to even buy a television for his son. He had dreamed of playing baseball in professional leagues, which would bring him not only wealth but also a sense of prestige. Prestige was something Troy was not privileged to experience because his society viewed him as a garbage collector and, most frustratingly, as an African American. Power is something that Troy and his family have not been able to acquire or possess. Troy's mistake of going to prison and having an affair with Alberta also didn't allow him to control his family. His wife Rose had built her world around him for 18 years, and his sons had not received the necessary fatherly guidance. Cory becoming a leader in the US military sparked a.